Algeria’s Sohaib Naïr earns Ligue 2 Team of the Week place after Saint-Étienne debut

Algerian defender Sohaib Naïr has been named in the Ligue 2 BKT Team of the Week after making an impressive official debut for Saint-Étienne in their 3-0 victory at Sochaux.

Naïr started at centre-back and played the full 90 minutes as Saint-Étienne began their campaign with a convincing away win and a clean sheet.

The 24-year-old made several important defensive interventions during his first competitive appearance for the club, producing a performance that immediately earned recognition.

His display was rewarded with a rating of 8 on SofaScore, which helped secure his selection in the Team of the Week for the opening matchday.

It was an ideal beginning for Naïr, who has only recently joined Saint-Étienne after moving from Guingamp.

The defender’s performance also attracted attention from Saint-Étienne supporters, who saw him help the team keep Sochaux from scoring during a dominant result on the road.

Naïr also discussed his partnership with Julien Le Cardinal after the match, highlighting the qualities of his new defensive colleague.

The Algerian believes Le Cardinal’s personal qualities helped the pair develop an understanding on the pitch, with their relationship already producing an encouraging result in their first competitive outing together.

The clean sheet against Sochaux provided an early indication of the defensive partnership’s effectiveness, while Naïr’s individual performance gave Saint-Étienne another reason for optimism.

The defender joined the French club this summer from Guingamp after choosing to continue his career in France despite receiving several offers from abroad.

His first official appearance has now provided an early reward for that decision.

Naïr began his football development at Toulouse before continuing his career elsewhere in France. His move to Saint-Étienne has also brought a wider personal ambition, with the defender hoping to return to the plans of the Algeria national team.

To achieve that goal, Naïr will need to maintain a high level of performance with Saint-Étienne throughout the season.

His opening display has given him a strong starting point. A full 90 minutes, a clean sheet, an 8-rated performance and a place in the Ligue 2 Team of the Week have made his first competitive appearance a particularly encouraging one.

After arriving from Guingamp during the summer, Naïr could hardly have asked for a more positive beginning to life in Saint-Étienne colours.